As time always seemed to do when one was happy, Isabella's time with Alec had flown by too quickly and before she knew it, she found herself standing behind Aro in the throne room once again. She was veiled again and trying to calm her nerves a bit. They would be here soon.

This time, as she'd been practicing all morning, her shield encompassed every vampire in the room. If Carlisle had succeeded in finding Edward, their secret would not remain one unless she could manage to maintain her shield.

The most difficult part had not been covering the others but trying to stay out of their thoughts. It was too distracting and impossible to concentrate when she could hear them all. For the past hour, she had practiced and perfected a secondary shield that protected her from their thoughts unless she wanted to hear them.

Her success was measured by the fact that neither Jane, Aro, or Alec could use their gifts on any under her protection and, when she wanted to be, she was alone in her own mind. The real test would be whether she could keep this up when her former family arrived.

"Isabella," Aro called her from her thoughts.

"Yes, Master?"

"Your inner shielding must be effective. I have been trying to communicate with you now for a few moments."

"I'm sorry, Master. Give me a moment and I will lower it."

"That is not necessary. I just wanted to tell you that I think you are doing very well. I have faith that you can handle this. You are stronger than you give yourself credit for, my dear."

It was the highest praise she could have imagined. She smiled down at the gracious leader, though he could not see her face.

"Thank you, Master Aro."

Aro nodded and returned the smile that he could not see, but that could be clearly heard in her voice.

Isabella jumped, startled, as the large chamber doors were shoved open with a loud crash.

"A deep breath, Maria," Aro intoned her name to remind her of her role, as her former love ran across the room toward the thrones, followed by his family.

Felix stepped up to prevent Edward's progress and keep him from reaching the leaders.

"What have you done?" Edward screamed at them.

Caius was off his throne and standing by Felix in an instant. "What have we done? What have you done, boy?"

"I-I," Edward began before collapsing to his knees. "Please, tell me it's not true. She can't be…"

"No human may live with our secret. You know the law," Aro responded calmly. "Felix, Caius, please step back. All is well."

The two withdrew slightly and Aro patted Isabella's hand before standing to approach the fallen boy, leaving her standing behind his throne. It was all the better as far as she was concerned. She was already closer to the one who broke her than she wanted to be.

Isabella spared a glance at Alec. He smiled at her softly and gave her an encouraging nod before tapping his temple with his finger. Taking the signal for what it was, she opened her inner shield enough to hear him.

You can do this, Izzy. Don't let him get to you. I'm right here, whatever you need.

She smiled happily behind her veil and nodded at her new love. He was right, Edward couldn't hurt her anymore. She felt safe and calm here with her family.

Aro approached Edward and reached for his hand. "Show me," he commanded simply.

Edward raised his hand to Aro's but kept his gaze on the floor. Aro sifted through the memories, focusing on the boy's side of the conversation in the woods that broke the dear girl so thoroughly.

"How could you think that was for the best?"

"I am a fool," Edward responded simply.

"And the rest of you," Aro began, indicating the other Cullens surrounding their fallen brother and son. "Carlisle claims that you all cared for the girl. How could you allow him to do this?"

Looks of confusion and defensiveness covered every face.

"You don't know. None of you know what he did? How is that even possible?" Aro asked, directing the question at Alice. "Surely you must have seen what he'd planned."

"He asked me not to look. He said it was for her own good. We had to leave her alone." Alice sobbed and Jasper wrapped his arms around her.

"We were all fools to leave her unprotected. She was a danger magnet," Rosalie spoke up kindly.

There was no missing the surprised gasp from the veiled woman at that statement, but no one took notice. Only her thoughts of Alec were keeping her calm.

Alec, for his part, was silently cursing his masters for putting his Izzy through this. His love and concern pushed through her internal shield. His loyalty to her above all others comforted her in a way nothing else could have.

"It is as I should have suspected. I could not imagine my old friend Carlisle abiding such a cruel family. It was only you who did this," Aro accused, focusing on Edward. "You do not deserve their love. Tell them, tell them what you did to her."

"What I did? I left her alive and well."

"You killed that girl! You may as well have. That was the day she stopped living."

"No."

"Yes. Now tell them," Aro commanded.

Isabella had had all she could take. She could not bear to relive that day again. Before even Alec had time to register the movement, she was pulling open the large door and running from the room.

"Maria, wait!" Aro called but it did not slow her.

"Izzy, please!" Alec begged.

"Go, Alec. Go after her," Aro commanded.

Alec tore off after her as the others stood and stared.

Edward gaped up at Aro in shock. "Izzy? Maria?" A bit of hope entered his eyes.

"Felix," Aro called before Edward had any more time to piece it together or Isabella's shielding fell from them. "The doors. No one else will be allowed to leave now."

"She…you…that was…" Edward stuttered.

"Isabella Marie Volturi. Yes."

"She's alive? You didn't kill her?"

"As I've tried to explain, we are not the ones who killed your Bella. You did that yourself."

"I only wanted her safe."

"Then why did you break her so thoroughly?"

"I didn't…" Edward pleaded.

"You did," Aro confirmed.

"Bella's a vampire?" The exuberant question escaped from a bouncing Emmett.

"Aro, why?" Carlisle asked.

"Because he left her and broke her. She sought death and quite unwittingly found immortality. Still, because of what he did, she wanted to die. So, she took his advice and came to us. And why did she choose to come here? Tell them Edward!"

"Because I told her that this was where I'd come to commit suicide."

"Yes," Aro replied as shock rushed through the other Cullens. "Not only did you reveal our existence, you did us the favor of painting us as evil monsters that kill our own kind without reason or provocation. She came here to beg me for death."

Esme was sobbing in Carlisle's arms as he raised his head and spoke quietly, "This is my fault."

"No," Edward argued as Aro agreed, "Yes, it is. You indulge this boy his every whim when all he really wants is to die and end his miserable existence."

"Aro, please, no," Esme begged.

"Do not grieve for him. We are not, contrary to rumor, a suicide squad. None of you will receive any punishment for this beyond your self-inflicted guilt and grief."

"Much as you deserve otherwise," Caius added.

"Why?" Alice asked.

"Because she begged mercy on your behalf and we will honor our bargain with Isabella," Marcus answered her.

"What bargain?" Edward snapped.

Aro smiled down at Edward, looking forward to this blow to the boy's heart. She had chosen to be Volturi. She was well and thoroughly done with him. He deserved so much worse but before he could answer the question, Edward interrupted.

"I can't hear you!"

"Still?" Aro asked, watching the boy's face as he shook his head. "Impressive. Her shield protects us still. I wonder," Aro mused, turning to Demetri. "Can you tell if she is still in the castle?"

Normally he could only track her if she allowed it but Demetri concentrated and checked anyway. "She has gone back, Master. Alec is with her."

"That far and still she covers us. Remarkable," Aro marveled.

"Gone back where?" Edward asked.

"That is none of your concern," Caius snapped.

"Of course it is. I love her."

"Love her so much you destroyed her?" Caius sneered.

"Masters?" Jane asked of Aro and Caius, looking for permission to speak. "If I may?"

"Of course, my dearest," Aro allowed, stepping back as young Jane stepped forward.

"You consider us cruel for feeding on humans. I know you consider me the worst for my gift, but I assure you of two things: first, I have never tortured and broken anyone as thoroughly as you did her and second, if you ever hurt her again, there will be no mercy."

Felix growled from behind them to further back up the threat and Edward shrank further to the ground.

"What now, Aro?" Carlisle asked quietly.

"You may leave. I told you, she begged mercy on your behalf."

"What about Bella?" Alice asked.

"I don't think she likes to be called that anymore," Aro retorted, laughing softly at the private joke. "She is Volturi. She lives with us now."

"But we want her with us," Esme sobbed from Carlisle's embrace.

"We care little for what you want, Cullens," Caius snapped.

"Isabella will do what she likes," Marcus agreed with his brothers.

"Can we see her?" Alice asked.

"That is up to her. Though I don't imagine any of us will see her for a while. She is quite upset and has run off."

"But you know where she is," Jasper drawled, holding Alice tightly.

"Generally, yes, but I have no need to track her down. She is not our prisoner."

Carlisle stepped forward and placed a hand on Edward's shoulder where he still sat on the floor. "May we remain in Volterra?"

"You may do as you wish, Carlisle. We will not punish you any further."

"Come," Carlisle commanded his family. "We will stay in town. If she wishes to see us, she will. We hope she will hear our apologies. We do love her. Will you pass that on, Aro?"

"She will have it directly from my own thoughts."

"Thank you, Aro."

The Cullens turned to leave with the exception of Edward, still slumped on the floor. Jane stepped up to him and held out a hand to help him stand. He looked at her questioningly.

"You would do well to accept a small kindness that I offer only because it would please my friend. It may very well be the last kind gesture offered to you."

Not understanding, but grateful for reasons not clear even to his own mind, he took Jane's hand and stood.

"Now go. See if you can figure out exactly how you messed up. If you truly want to apologize, you'd better know what you're apologizing for. Even her patience is worn too thin with you."

Edward nodded solemnly and turned to follow his family from the room.

Aro walked up behind Jane and placed a hand on her shoulder as they watched the doors close behind their guests. "She'd be proud of you for that."

"She's a good influence on us all," Jane agreed with a smile.